WPD: Driver charged with DWI after hitting school bus had .13 BAC

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) -- The first day of school in New Hanover County got off to a scary start for some middle school students after police say a drunk driver hit their bus.

Wilmington Police charged Robert Philip Carroll, 38, of Wilmington with DWI and reckless driving after they say his Nissan Altima hit a school bus around 7:30 a.m. at the intersection of Wrightsville Avenue and Rose Avenue. Witnesses told police the bus was headed west on Wrightsville toward College Road when Carroll's car, heading the opposite direction, swerved across the center line and hit the bus in the front.

WPD spokeswoman Linda Rawley says Carroll had a 0.13 blood alcohol level, which is well above the legal limit of 0.08.

The school district says there were eight children on the bus on the way to Holly Shelter and Trask middle schools. One student said he might be hurt, so the student was taken to Cape Fear Memorial Hospital. There is no word on the student's condition. The bus had only minor damage, and took the rest of the children to their schools.

Sources tell WWAY this is not Carroll's first DWI charge. He was also arrested for the crime in 2012.

Rawley says Carroll is out of jail on a $10,000 secured bond. She says he has a trial date of Nov. 16.

Disclaimer: Comments posted on this, or any story are opinions of those people posting them, and not the views or opinions
of WWAY NewsChannel 3, its management or employees. You can view our comment policy here.